Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough prep ?

Re: Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough pr

Guys will say different things, I was taught that it is best to use acid before color sealing. In an ideal situation it would be best to wait a day after cleaning befre color sealing, but if you set several air movers out for a couple hours to dry everything you can start the work the same day.

Re: Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough pr

Different manufacturers / distributors of color seal will have different answers about their product. The most common responses are yes you should acid etch or that it is not necessary but might be helpful. I would advice doing the acid etch. Some color seals will need an alkaline rinse to follow that will neutralize the acid.

Drying time depends on the temperature, air flow, humidity and such. Usually a few hours will be fine. You don't want any puddles or standing water, but a little moisture in the grout won't hurt.

Re: Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough pr

I used Spectrum stain seal, it is a urethane acrylic formula. I know floors that have been done over 15 years ago and still holding up good. They were cleaned with a high alkaline or neutral based cleaner.

You do need to make sure there is not an existing sealer on the grout that would need to be stripped.

Otherwise no acid wash necessary...why ad an entire cleaning step to the job? I can't speak for other products but Spectrum is easy to apply and very durable. I have hit it with 1000 PSI within a couple hours of application and it didn't peel up off the grout.

Re: Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough pr

Are you saying that with that product you have applied it straight down without cleaning before? That would be a massive money and time saver if it bonded. So much time and money it may make up for a planned touch up trip a few months down the road...

Re: Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough pr

No just used alkaline or neutral cleaner, to me acid etching is a second step to this. Are you guys just acid washing 1st step?

Re: Do you have to acid etch grout before color sealing or is the alkaline solution a good enough pr

A coupe of hours drying bloody hell.

I clean the tiles, and grout then I set up air movers while I'm packing everything away. I will then use a heat gun to dry the grout on the wall I intend to start colour sealing. By the time I've colour sealed that wall the other wall is ready.